All stadiums for 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar are expected to be commissioned two years prior to the kick off of the international football championship, says FIFA Secretary General, Fatma Samoura.
Qatar is set to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup between November 21 and December 18 at seven venues across the country, namely in Doha, Lusail, Al-Wakrah, Al-Khor, Al-Rayyan, Umm Salal and Madinat ash Shamal.
“Qatar will be the first country in the history of the World Cups that will have all stadiums ready in minimum two years before the World Cup,” Samoura said in an interview.
The FIFA secretary general, who paid a visit to Moscow, said Qatar has already commissioned one arena, the other is about to be commissioned, while two additional will be commissioned in 2019 and the last four in 2020.
“So I mean all eight stadiums will be ready by late 2020 or two years before the World Cup,” Samoura said.
The first completed venue in Qatar for hosting matches of the 2022 FIFA World Cup is the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha. Named after Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar’s former Emir, the facility boasts an over 40,000-seat capacity.
Qatar won the right to host the matches of the 2022 FIFA World Cup on December 2, 2010.
In March 2015, FIFA officially announced that the 22nd edition of FIFA’s flagship event would be played in November and December 2022, with the final match set for December 18, 2022 – Qatar National Day – and with the objective, in principle, of holding the tournament for 28 days.
Doha plans to spend at least $200 billion on the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Russian Ambassador to Qatar Nurmakhmad Kholov disclosed.
“At least $200 billion will be spent on the 2022 FIFA World Cup,” he said.
“They want to show themselves to the best advantage while hosting the 2022 World Cup, so the primary focus and resources will be on the tournament.”
Anthony Nlebem
